ODJ: learning humility
July 5, 2013
READ: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall (v.12).
Last month, as my wife was using our riding lawn mower, she accidentally hooked the bottom of the mower on one of the swings of our swing set. It dangerously lifted the front tyres off the ground! So as I was recently cutting the grass, her scare reminded me to slow down to first gear. I confidently manoeuvred around the swing on my left—but I failed to see the one on the right. Suddenly the mower reared up on its rear wheels and then tipped backwards. After hitting the ground and rolling clear of the blades, I realised that my mower now lay upside down on its crushed steering wheel.
My wife couldn’t believe what I’d done. After what had happened to her, she wondered how I could have been so careless. But that was the problem. It had happened to her, a rookie driver. I had mowed our lawn for 8 years without incident. In fact, I didn’t even know it was possible to flip a riding mower on level ground—and I didn’t think it could happen to me.
I had failed to fully learn from my wife’s example. In1 Corinthians 6 Paul tells us that we should learn from the Israelites. Their stories of disobedience “were written down to warn us” not to “crave evil things as they did, or worship idols” or “engage in sexual immorality” or “put Christ to the test” or “grumble as some of them did” (1 Corinthians 10:6-11). We are worse the moment we suppose we’re better, for we become sloppy when we think we’ll never fall.
If “pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18), then we must live humbly and alertly before God. What sin are you sure you would never commit? Look out! You’ve just let down your guard.
—Mike Wittmer
Luke 7:1-17 ‹
Read Mark 14:27-31, 66-72 to learn the danger of overconfidence.
What sin are you inching towards because you’re sure you’d never actually do it? What do you think God wants you to do about it?
Thank you for your post. I am blessed. Just want to add some verse as I encounter this in my life and I am sharing one of His word that I am holding forever.
For His grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect to my weakness.